Infographics are graphics that display information in an easy-to-understand way. Doing this enables viewers to digest a large amount of facts and figures more quickly and easily than if they were written in black and white.

Their popularity is down to the aesthetic and expressive way in which they are displayed. This was originally done with bars and lines, but designs these days can be extravagant including icons and pictograms which make content more appealing and eye-catching.

It’s for this reason that the infographic can be a favourable method of creating CVs. And with the current state of the jobs market, having a curriculum vitae that stands out from the crowd is extremely valuable.

However, when it comes to your CV, there are a few things to bear in mind before you decide on an infographic.

The job application
Suitable industries to target with an infographic CV are the creative ones, such as graphic design and animation. This way, you can show off both your acumen for the job, such as your qualifications and experience, as well as your creative design skills, whereas a standard written CV would restrict you to the former.

Competition is fierce for any job at the moment, but it is particularly so for creative positions. This means that examples of your work will be more likely to entice potential employers, rather than dissuade them.

An infographic CV excels here because it acts as a piece of work, either as a stand-alone example or even integrated into a portfolio.

However, other fields such as finance and medicine might be less receptive to such an exuberant CV. After all, your creativity isn’t really what a potential employer is looking for. They will more than likely be interested in your qualifications and experience, in which case a standard CV may be more advantageous.

Overshadowing your CVs content
Your CV needs to stand out and grab attention for the right reasons. When created successfully, an infographic CV does this by carefully balancing the emphasis between design and the content within that design, so that they complement each other.

On the other hand, if you try to be too flashy and go for an all-singing, all-dancing infographic CV, you could end up taking the focus away from the content, making it harder to understand and leaving the reader nonplussed.

Similarly, if you’re applying for a position that sets criteria slightly above your qualifications or experience (and we’ve all applied for such posts), it’s easy to grasp at anything that might just sway a potential employer. In these instances, it’s advisable to avoid using an infographic as a pretty design that’s intended to mask any inadequacies.

Versatility
Before you jump into designing an infographic CV, consider how you’ll be applying for positions once it’s finished. If you send printed CVs through the post or present them in person, an infographic is ideal because you can design and print at home.

Applying online, however, might throw up a few problems with restrictions on what you can upload in an application such as PDF or Microsoft Word files.
The former shouldn’t be an issue; any software you use to design your infographic CV should export your finished document as a PDF.

Working with Word, on the other hand, can cause problems because the software isn’t intended for image-heavy layouts. This can result in changes in appearance when viewed by the potential employer. The alternative is to have a Word version of your CV, as well as an infographic CV that you can use when it’s appropriate.

As you can see, infographic CVs can be a great way to distinguish yourself in a crowded market and they’re quite simple to create: there are some programs specifically tailored to designing them and desktop publishers enable it too.

But before you dive into the world of infographic CVs, ask yourself whether they’re the best option for the positions for which you’re applying.

This fast paced world has switched our gear into attention deficit so we do not always have time to read through lengthy blog posts and analyze graph after graph. What we want instead is a brief but coherent summary of all the vital facts.

We are all aware that a picture is worth a thousand words so how can this strategy be used in the world of business. It’s simple- through the creative yet convenient use of Infographic Templates.

Infographics can transform complex and lengthy information into a friendly presentation which are both easy to understand and visually engaging.

Whether you are building a website, a PowerPoint presentation or just looking for a cool alternative to present information, an Infographic can capture the viewer’s attention from the get-go.

There is no doubt that the significance and popularity of Infographics will only increase as the internet gets flooded with more content making it harder to capture the attention of an audience with copious amounts of distractions and options. As a creator of content you want to provide compelling work which will build an obedient audience but does not require forever and a day to construct.

Creating beautiful pieces of art in Infographics is the solution. However it does not require the technicality of Photoshop or other design programs to make it happen. Life is always best when kept simple. So let us introduce ten useful Infographic Template websites- each highlighting their unique features helping you to make the best Infographic possible for all your needs.

Venngage

Venngage is very easy to navigate and allows the user to create interactive Infographics with just a few clicks. It comes with both premium and free Infographic templates which can be downloaded straight onto your computer.

Some of the standout features are:

As soon as you land on their page you know you can create and download free Infographic templates

The drop-down menu under the Infographics tab allows you to choose the Infographics Template specific to the data you want to present.

The interactive option in the edit menu allows additional external links to be added to the Infographic such as a YouTube URL or an email sign up.

Venngage actually offers other graphic options other than free Infographic template which can be used for the same purpose- particularly the report templates which are ideal for PowerPoint Infographics.

And of course if you do need help at any time there is the question bubble located at the bottom of the page on the right hand side. How convenient!

With over 400 templates to use, Piktochart will leave you spoilt for choice. However the availability of free Infographic templates are limited but none-the-less this website still serves useful for those willing to pay for their premium service.

Once you sign in you, you are prompted to select the format of the Infographic template with simple navigation

You even have the option to make your own Infographic from scratch and see what you can create.

Another standout with Piktochart is the option to create your own types of charts and import your own data which is very useful for making an Infographic Powerpoint presentation.

It is also good to know that you have the option to change the page set-up from the default A-4 size to the letter size. This option is found in the file tab in the top menu drop-down bar.

Piktochart has an abundant of great graphics to include in your Infographic Template construction and its user-friendly platform makes the task easy and reliable for future use.

Infogr.am

Infogr.am is a great website for creating professional looking Infographics. The free Infographic templates come in a simple design and colour layout.

It’s as easy as choosing the colour combinations they offer in their Infographic templates and playing around with the layout options.

Navigating through the template creation is nice and straightforward. All the added features are just where you need them.

Infogr.am is ideal for those who are after an Infographic Template with customized data charts and text present in a fluid manner.

A unique feature of using Infogr.am Infographic Templates is that once you have created your Infographic it can then be published on its website and monitored with the analytic tools for view popularity. This could be an opportunity to market your brand or business through their website on your own Infographics and include a call-to-action to your external website.

Canva provides hundreds of free design elements to play around with in your Infographic Template as you bring to life your presentation. There are also great premium themes for less than a dollar each.

Once you have landed on the design page you are introduced to a very helpful introductory guide on how things work- taking a total of 23 seconds to complete!

There is a great variety of different text styles available on Canva that go beyond the standard selection of fonts found on word documents and similar applications.

Easel.ly

Easel.ly is definitely worth considering as they have a large library of designed Infographic templates covering a wide range of subjects already and can be a great source of inspiration in the creation stage.

They have some cool graphics included in the template which can be used for a variety of purposes and topics so the possibilities are never limited. Easel.ly also conveniently suggests where on the Inforgraphic template to place each feature for maximum visual appeal.

It is also worth noting that Easel.ly is a great site for not only creating your own Infographic download but also for re-using other ready-made Infographics- as long as the credit is given where it is due! If you are behind in an assignment and do not have time to make an Infograhic from scratch then Easel.ly may just be able to help you out.

Visualize.me

Visualize.me allows the user to break away from the generic resume and instead express their professional accomplishments and experience through the visual presentation of an online Infographic.

The themes and the layouts of the Infographic template on Vizualize.me will make your online resume stand out from the rest with eye-catching visuals that outline your professional qualifications and experiences.

It’s easy to follow layout and amusing data presentations will impress the future employers as they lay their eyes on your creative resume made with Vizualize.me.

Effective communication is important for any business. One of the best ways to communicate with your customers and potential customers is by disseminating information effectively. People need to know what you are about and what you are offering but in many cases, they do not want to try too hard to get the information that they need. At a time when people are looking for instant or quick results, making it easy for people to understand what you are communicating is to your advantage.

Facts, relevant figures and expert information or analysis have the power for persuasion. By letting your audience see and understand what you want them to know, you can greatly influence their beliefs as well as the decisions that they make. Methods of communication and how people receive content has changed as people look for the most effective options. The use of information graphics or infographics is becoming more popular as the main method of communication.

Presenting information effectively

How you present your information will determine its effectiveness. Information graphics has a huge impact on readers, and you can convince your audience about any issue by using the best format. Vision plays an important role when it comes to information as people try to visualize what they read or hear. Visualizing ideas is the best way to understand and assimilate any concept, and this is one reason this is so effective when communicating.

Retention of essential information

Apart from understanding the content, infographics help to enhance retention. Everyone knows that information that is retained is the most effective information when it comes to understanding. It is much easier to illustrate facts or trends using charts and other tools such as images, icons and pictures. Visual elements help to enhance communication, and this has led to a surge in creativity as people look for unique ways to communicate their messages.

Presenting relevant information

Infographics design allows the audience to understand and retain the information that they are receiving. The fact that it is easier to pick up useful information makes it effective. The visual elements included with the text allow readers to focus on important facts. The information is presented more efficiently by condensing the information and providing a quick overview. The readers can concentrate on the relevant facts without having to go through the clutter.

Research has shown that people learn more through visual elements such as pictures. Visual thinking or the process of seeing words as pictures helps to enhance retention. People are more likely to remember what they see more than what they read, and it is also easier to share images on social media.